Turning device



Aug. 26, 1958 J. G. wALsER, JR 2,849,167

TURNING DEVICE Filed Feb. 25, 1957 FIGS 3 FIG. 2

- INVENTOR. JOSEPH G. WALSER,JR.

ATTORNEY 2,849,167 Patented Aug. 26, 1 958 fine The present invention relates to turning devices and more particularly to a folding apparatus for turning the cuff portion of a stocking or the like.

It is the conventional practice in the hosiery industry to turn back or fold down the cuff or upper portion of anklets, bobby-socks, or campus-length stockings one or more turns prior to packaging and placing the knitted goods on the market. This operation at present is laborious and costly since the turning operation involves manually placing each individual stocking cuff portion ona supporting board to permit an operator to turn the cutf portion backwardly one or more times. Thereafter, in a separate operation called pairing the stockings must be matched according to similar cuff length for final mating in pairs.

Turning and mating operations are performed normally at a remote location from the boarding operation during which operation the stockings are shaped on a heated stocking form either by means of an aqueous medium or an electrically heated board.

It is, therefore, an objective of this invention to provide a device for folding or turning the cuff portion of stockings.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a form having a mechanism attached thereto for turning back the cuff portion of hosiery accurately to form a single or multiple fold.

A further objective of this invention is to provide a cuff-turning apparatus for accurately folding back a predetermined portion of a stocking cuff.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a mechanism for use in combination with a stocking form used in boarding operations wherein the cuff portion of a stocking placed on the form may be turned back to form a single or multiple fold.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a turning device which may be automatically operated for turning back the cuff portion of hosiery placed upon a heated form during the boarding operation.

A further object of this invention is the process of turning back a stocking to form a folded cuff portion during the boarding operation.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a turning device mounted on a boarding form embodying the inventive concept and illustrating a stocking to be folded in outline form in the initial position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the stocking in outline form with the device actuated to form a first stocking culf fold;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation similar to Figs. 1 and 2 illustrating the stocking in outline form with the device actuated in a third position to form a second cuff fold;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views in side elevation illustrating the stages of cuif turning coresponding to the positions assumed by the stocking in the positions of the device illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, respectively;

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the plane of section line 88 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 and 7 there is broadly shown therein a hosiery-receiving form 10, conventionally referred to as a board, on which form a knitted stocking 11, shown in outline form only as positioned on the board for clarity, is placed to finish the stocking by the application of heat obtained from an aqueous medium, such as steam, under approximately 10 to 30 p. s. i. g. pressure which flows through the interior 12 of the board when it is mounted on a suitable steam table header line (not shown) and bolted thereto through the openings 13 in the mounting flange 14. It will be readily apparent that although for the purposes of this specification a steam heated board is described, other type boards such as electrically heated boards and any other type stocking-supporting or cufisupporting form may be employed. The present mode of application wherein a turning apparatus is combined with a final boarding operation is the preferred form with the ultimate objective of the elimination of additional costly operations normally encountered subsequent to the boarding operation, such as cuff-turning and pairing.

The board 10 is provided with a foot portion 15 and a leg portion 16 arranged in normal relation with the foot portion having standard foot aligning marks 17 inscribed therein. Although conventional existing boards or forms may be employed it is desirable to use a modified board wherein the leg portion is decreased to accommodate the turning apparatus 18 without appreciably increasing the final perimeter of the form whether a device is attached to the form for producing a single or a double fold is achieved as will be described more fully below.

The stocking cuff turning apparatus 18 for performing a double-turned cuff of the type illustrated in Fig. 6 will be described initially. An oval-shaped guide tube 24 is supported on the board by fastening to the vertical strip 19, the lower end of which is secured to the flange 14, so as to retain the tube in spaced relation to the form leg portion to provide an annular cavity therebetween to accommodate the introduction of an inner sleeve member assembly 21 for slidable movement in the cavity. An outer sleeve assembly 22 is mounted on the exterior of the guide tube for slidably bearing thereon between limits.

Inner sleeve member assembly 21 is positioned adjacent to the leg portion of the form and has a collar band 24 stationarily fastened in a suitable manner to the leg portion in a preselected position determined by the final cuff-turn location of the stocking. A movable collar band 25 is spaced axially from the band 24 and like band 24 encircles the form. Band 25 has an actu ating lever 26 connected thereto with a projecting hand grip 27 to facilitate the movement of the movable collar band 25 within the guide tube 20. A plurality of flexible and preferably resilient strip members 28 extend from the fixed collar band to the movable collar band and are fastened at each end of the strips to the collar bands.

The flexible strip members 28 when assembled form a sleeve that encloses the board for a predetermined length depending upon the length of the cuff-fold desired. Spacing between flexible strips may be varied provided adequate support is furnished as the cuff is to be turned so as to prevent collapse of the cuff at any location about '2 J theform thus causing vunduedrag and'b'ias on the other flexible members. It has been found that thin strips of brass, strips of heat-resistant synthetic rubber, polyethylene having appreciably high heat resistance and other materials are satisfactory for transmitting the resultant wave action to the cuff gPOI'tlOHxOf ithe-stocking as well as conduct adequateuheat to jperform-- the boarding operation.

Whilethe sleeve members zmay' 'be :madeuof strips or other .desirable 1 shapes, inwsome applications :additional support'for i the reach fbetween collar bands is necessary tojprovide auxiliary support as'rthe flexible strips :move outwardly and upwardly to. form'awmovingsand decreasing: loop, asrshownin the final .positionzinsFig. :3. One means. for increasing the supportiandztoz urgenheiflexible strips inwardly as the sleeve movesiupwardly is. to fasten aplurality.ofbackinglstripszzkat cones end to the. movablecollar. band :25 withithei othenend free. to move outwardly but. toi'resiliently .urge .the strips inwardly. The length of the backingustrips 'williextendvto a position intermediate the? flexible striplength. As is evident from Fig. 3, as the innensleeve'is'moved'iupwardly the individual strips rmoveloutwardly and-are urged upwardly by the backing stripsito formthe'resulting loop in the strip.

The outerisleeve'member 22 isprovided with -a fixed collar band '31 that is supported in spaced relation to the:formtoipermitsliding movement of the inner sleeve componentsitherethrough. Band-Bl overlies the inner sleeve but isstaggered from band 24 apredetermined distance. A movable collar band 32 is spaced axially from the fixed band for sliding movement upwardly on the guide'tube'20. -A" fle'xible sleeve made of flexible and preferably resilient strips 33 of a suitable material'are fastened-at the ends thereof tothe collar bands 31 and 32 as on the inner sleeve collar bands. Also, aplurality of backing strips 34 are'fastened at one end of each to the movable collar band 32 and-each strip 34 urges its corresponding flexible strip 33 inwardly toward the form 'upon'vertical displacement of the movable collar toward thefixed'collar.

'lt-will be'apparent thatthe backing strips or*fingers 29 and-34 maybeeliminated in some applications where a sufficiently rigid strip'33 may be used at the-lower end of the sleeve member and the upper portion ofthe strip will be'suflic'ientlyflexible to follow a defined path to 7 form -a-loop that willturn a" stocking cuff wrong-side out for a predetermined length without rolling thecuff.

'In operation a 'knitted stocking 35 of' campus length isgplaced'on the board 10as shown in outlineforrn in Fig. l,Wit.l1"Fig. 4 illustrating the disposition of the stocking without'afold in the removed section of the cuff '36. "Both 'inner'and'outer sleeve members remain inthe extendedpositionshown inFig. l preparatory to the reception of the stocking 35 thereon. After the boarding cycle is'comp'lete'd the movable collar band 32 is moved upwardly to a top limit during which movement the flexible strips 33'moveoutwar'dly and are urged upwardly with the cufl thereonwiththe cuff. following the looporwaveicontour prescribed by the strips 33 and the cuff portion'beingturnedba'ck on the stocking. Obviouslywhen only "one told is desired the stocking may be removed and will have the single fold 37 illustrated in Fig. in-sto'cking'3'5.

Single folds similar'to that shown in Fig. 5 are "normally.require'd only'inanklet stockings or in infants stockings. Where'only single'folds-are desired the inner sleeve member21 may beeliminated entirely but this is not a condition for operation.

With a singlefold 37 already formed, the collar band 32 is retracted from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position illustrated in Fig. 3. In Fig. 2 the turned cuff 37 rests completely on the flexible strips 28 of the inner sleeve member preparatory for the next sequence. Upon elevating the'lever -arm 27 the movable collar 'band25 ofthe inner "sleeve is displaceable vertically whereby the flexible strips 28, assisted when necessary by the backing strips 29, will turn the cuff again to form a double-turned cuff 38 as shown in Fig. 6. The disposition of the flexible strips 28 will assume the position shown in Fig. 3 which is illustrative of the type loop that is formed in formation of the first fold as the flexible strips 33 are moved-radially and upwardly. Upon retraction of the collar band'25 to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the double' folded stocking may be removed from the board.

It will be readily apparent that suitable markings may be placed onthe 'flexible 'members to serve as indicia for determining the Jength of a fold desired. Each length of fold utilizingthis apparatus will be uniform thereby eliminating the need for pairing as the folded lengths will be standard for each setting. Although the apparatus has been described as a manually operated apparatus, it is contemplated that theapparatuswill be mechanized and common actuatinglinkage will be applied to a battery of boarding forms to make the turns simultaneously and in-sequence.

Obviously"many mddifications and-variations may be made in the construction and arrangement of the individual 'sleeve members and the flexible strip and collar bands'asw ell asmddiflcations made to the actuating means in the light of the above teaching without departingfrom-"the real purpose and spirit of this invention. Itis, there'foreftobe understood that within the scope or the" appended claims'manyrrrodified forms of the present inventiveconcept as Well as the use of alternatives maybe reasonab'ly"included and modifications are contemplated.

What is" claimed is:

l. 'A turningapparatus for folding back the cuff portionof "a stocking comprising a stocking receiving form on'wh'ich astockingmaybe placed inextended condition, an outer sleeve member and aninner sleeve member mounted for've'rtical movement on said form, said inner sleeve'memberextendingbeyond saidouter sleeve member, each of said members having an upper and a lower collar'ban'dspacedaxiallytrom each other, said upper collar'ba'ndsofthe inneran'd outer sleeve members being stationary, and-eachof said lower'collar bands being guidably displaceable sequentially toward'the corresponding upper collar badd,'and"a plurality of axially extending flexible members reaching between the upper and lower collar bands andhflixed thereto, said flexible members beingfree for averticalreach to be displaced radially upon displacing the lower 'collarband toward the upper collar'barid, 'fingers supported on the lower collars'of each sleeve'memberand reaching to a length intermediate the extent between the collarbands for'urging the flexible members toward the form whereby upon displacing the outer sleeve lower'co'llar vertically a first cuff fold is formed and upon displacing the inner sleeve lower collar band upon retraction of'the'outer 'sleeve lower collar band a second'cufi told is formed.

2. A turning apparatus for folding back the cuff portion of a stocking in combination with a contour boarding formwithfoot'anddegpor'tions and havingmeans for heating associated with the form, said turning apparatus comprising a'pairof'overlapping sleeve members having substantially the 'contour of the leg portion of the form, the-inner'of saidsleeve members extending beyond'the outer sleeve member a selected length, each of said sleeve members having'astationary'and a movable collar band, .said .stationary collar bands being mounted in spaced relation towardthe'foot portion of the form, and cuff-engaging flexible members reaching between the individual collar bands forfastening thereto to formulate a form-encompassing sleeve, said flexible members moving outwardlywand toward-the foot portion of the form for turning the cufitpor-tion ofastocking each time a movable collar band is displaced toward the stationary collar band.

3. A stocking cuff turning apparatus of the character described for use in combination with a stocking receiving form, said apparatus comprising an inner and an outer sleeve, said sleeves being fixed at one end and movable at the other end and overlapping each other in staggered relation, each of said sleeves extending along the form to receive the cuff portion of a stocking thereon, said sleeves having a length intermediate the sleeve length formed of a flexible material for outward flexure upon displacing the movable end of the sleeve toward the fixed end whereby the cuff portion of a stocking may be turned back on itself a predetermined length each time a sleeve movable end is displaced toward a fixed end.

4. A stocking cuff-turning apparatus for use in combination with a cuff-receiving form, said apparatus comprising a form, encircling sleeve means mounted on the form, said sleeve means including a first fixed and a second movable collar band spaced axially from each other, flexible means extending between the collar bands for fastening thereto, said flexible means being displaceable outwardly and in a wave-like manner to fold over on itself toward the first fixed collar band upon displacement of the second movable collar theretoward, and means for displacing the movable collar band toward the fixed collar band.

5. A stocking cuff-turning apparatus for use in combination with a cuff-receiving form on which the cult portion of a stocking may be supported during cuff folding, said apparatus comprising sleeve means mounted on the form and having a fixed and a movable end and an intermediate portion including an expandible, flexible material over which the stocking cuff may cling, and an actuating means for displacing the movable band toward the fixed band whereby the flexible material may urge the cuff portion outwardly and to fold over on itself by means of a wave action of the flexible material.

6. A cufl-turning apparatus for stockings comprising a cuff-receiving form, a pair of sleeve members mounted on said form in overlapping staggered relationship, said sleeve members having flexible extending elements, corresponding ends of said sleeve members being fixed and the other ends being movable relative to the form where by upon displacing the other end of one sleeve member toward the fixed end of a single cuff fold is formed and upon displacing the other end of the other sleeve member toward its fixed member a second cuff fold is formed in the same stocking.

7. A cuff-turning apparatus for stockings comprising, in combination, a stocking-receiving boarding form, a first band member encircling said form and being supported thereon in a fixed position, a second band member slidably mounted in spaced axial relation to said first band member, and flexible means of selected length fastened to the band members, said flexible means being displaceable outwardly from said form to form a loop as said second band member is slidably moved toward said first band member.

8. The art of boarding and folding the cuff portion of stockings which comprises the steps of placing a stocking on a boarding form, boarding the stocking, folding back the top portion of the stocking on itself to form the cuff portion of the stocking with the stocking remaining in situ on the form.

9. The art of boarding and folding the cuff portion of stockings which comprises the steps of placing a stocking on a boarding form, boarding the stocking, sequentially folding the stocking cufi portion back on itself to form a multiple fold with the stocking in situ.

10. The art of boarding and folding the cuff portion of stockings which comprises the steps of placing a stocking on a boarding form, boarding the stocking, folding back the top portion of the stocking on itself to form the cuff portion of the stocking with the stocking remaining in situ on the form, and removing the folded stocking from the form.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 775,992 Shallenberger Nov. 29, 1904 1,000,289 Patterson Aug. 8, 1911 1,001,983 Roberts Aug. 29, 1911 2,487,764 Prosser Nov. 8, 1949 

